Christmas Cards From An Owl

 

Christmas music is playing, snow is falling, coffee is hot, and I am ready for a post this morning.

Today, my parents are coming over to do their Christmas with us and my father is bringing an extra box of random trade bait. Should be fun. I guess we are also watching the Giants game, we like to be depressed apparently.

This time of year, I love getting cards in the mail. Especially since nobody mails real Christmas cards anymore. My wife and I used to look forward to the mailbox and looking for how many Christmas cards we received to add to our card rack. It used to be either match the number of days in the month or ahead. 

This year, we are on day eight and we have two.

TWO.

I know many have gone to sending digital cards or mostly texts, but it's not the same. What happened to the good old days of Christmas???

So, guess it's sport cards now. I have gotten more of those recently.

Not that I am complaining, I just want both. Best of both worlds.

*takes a sip*

My latest card haul came from the legendary Night Owl Cards who sent me a variety of fun.

 

My lack of funds for the 2024 season has left plenty of gaps in my collection in many collections. Coles are new additions.

So, weren't these minis. I was always a fan of O'Neill.

  

Rizzo is gone. I don't expect him back nor do I want him back. I never felt he provided much in the Yankees lineup other than needing to be replaced because he was never healthy.

  

I only have a few Yankee Soto cards. Without knowing if he will be a long term Yankee I wasn't planning on adding to many. I am however sick of hearing about him every day, just wished he would return to pinstripes already and stop dragging other teams into this. Of course, looking at the Dodgers un-ending amounts of money, watch him go there.

If Soto ends up a Yankee for life, then I will definitely seek more of him in pinstripes.

J-Dom has been a side PC the last few years. This kid has the talent, just needs to play. Hopefully 2025 will be his year.

Stroman had an up and down season for the Yankees. They have so many needs in pitching, it's scary. I don't think Stroman is the answer, that's why he has bounced around.

Just when I was down on Stanton and wanted him gone, he put on a postseason for the ages. He was the reason why the Yankees advanced to the World Series in my opinion.

I have been wanting this card since I first saw it, I believe it WAS on my want list. No more.

 

I know many of you are down on Leaf, but this card looks super cool. I couldn't capture it in full light and my light box couldn't do it either, but believe me, it's awesome.

Thanks again for the mail day Greg!

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

Well, I better get to cleaning up soon before my parents arrive. Here's to hoping for some Christmas cards and well, sport cards in the mail this week.

Have a great Sunday full of coffee.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Worth The Wait Part 2

Coffee is ready, dentist appointment is done-no cavities- and I have some cards to show off finally.

Without further ado, let's do some Cards Over Coffee.

I hope this post was Worth The Wait for you guys, I know I have been biting my time to show this one off.

But, here we go. 

This is a follow up part to the first half of my mail day from @90sNicheFBCard. There is actually a third part to, but you will have to read and check out Big Blue Cardboard to see that part when it's posted.

Today, it is strictly baseball heavy and I know there are plenty of baseball card readers out there.

Let's kick it off with this beautiful Double Relic autograph of Dave Winfield.

I am probably one of the few collectors out there who actually likes the manufactured relics more than a plain colored jersey card.

I always liked Robinson Cano, this is my first autograph of him.

Nick Nelson is a Philly now, sounds like it's a good thing looking at his stats. Yankees traded him off to make room for prospects on their 40-man roster.

 

Gleyber Torres autograph! This will replace the one I traded off. I regret doing that, and even though this one is not in Yankee uniform, it's a rookie one so that's cooler.

And the final card in this post, not final card overall as there will be some cool cards posted on Big Blue Cardboard and there were also many others I didn't post here, was a BIG SURPRISE and wasn't a part of our trade.

It was shocking. It was beautiful. It was like that instant first sip of coffee in that morning that takes you to heaven.

It was my first Juan Soto autograph!!!!

Yes, I am as blown away as you are. Try not to spill your coffee.

I think Bryan sent it because he felt bad I waited so long for the mail day even though I was fine with it. But, I believe he sent it because he is a good friend with a big heart.

Thanks so much again Bryan!

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

This mail day was so worth the wait. There was so much fun in the box and a lot of cards I didn't either remember or recognize as a part of our trade. And of course, finishing out the package with the surprise Soto autograph is never a bad way to end.

I think we are on our way for our newest trade, and I bet this one will also be worth the wait when it's completed.

I hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

A Few Of My Favorite Things

*coffee smells good, cards are ready, laptop is fired up, it's time for some Cards Over Coffee*

19 DAY TIL CHRISTMAS

I have posted a variety of my Christmas cards so far, but I haven't really posted a lot of Topps Holiday baseball which is the main chunk of my collection.

Most of it is base, but I do have some of the short prints which are the cooler cards from the product other than the Santa hat swatches. At least in my opinion.

So, I thought I would show off a few of my favorite things...well cards.

*takes a sip*

*read the following to the tune of My Favorite Things*

Santa sack on Cavan.

Francisco with presents.

Ohtani is gifting.

Altuve is swinging.

and Soto with trees and these are a few of my favorite things.

When the Topps Sp come. I collect them. I will binder them. Because they are a few of my favorite things.

*end tune*

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

I do have other Sp's but most are pretty similar to the above ones.

I will say between all of them that my favorite is the Soto. It may take some extra creativity to beat that one in my eyes.

I hope everyone has a Wonderful Wednesday. We are one step closer to the weekend and to Christmas.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2022 Topps Museum Collection Baseball

*it's time to sit down and enjoy a fresh cup of brew, this along with some cards equals some cards over coffee time*

For the sixth year in a row, I am able to try a box of Museum Collection. I have had mixed results with the product so far scoring about a 50% decent hit ratio or 3 out of 6 boxes with at least one good card. Those numbers are rough knowing what these boxes usually cost.

Speaking of cost, this year is even more due to the inflation in the hobby.

Let's hope this box is a good one.

*takes a sip before moving onto the break*

In every box of 2022 Topps Museum Collection there are 4 mini boxes per Master Box. Each box has a hit, and the hits can range from autographs to quad relics to patch cards, etc. NO guarantees other than that, including autographs. Boxes are currently $360.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

BASE:

 

There are 100 cards in the Museum Collection base set.

This includes Veterans,

Rookies (one per master box)

And Legends of the game.

PARALLELS:

Unlike shiny products, there are only a few parallels in Museum Collection.

These include,

Copper, Sapphire /150, Amethyst /99, Ruby /50, and Emerald 1/1.

Found this Sapphire of the GOAT of baseball, Ken Griffey Jr. It is also numbered 24/150....eBay 1/1.

INSERTS:

There is only one, Canvas Collection Reproduction.

Mine was of Juan Soto.

HITS:

I know this is what you are really here for!

J.T. Realmuto

Miguel Cabrera

Eric Hosmer with a nice patch swatch.

 

And the big hit of the box, a quad relic featuring the stars of MLB this year.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

Well, for the cost of the box, it was rough even with the quad relic ending. I am a little disappointed that autographs are not guaranteed in every box which also hurts the value. My box isn't the first one I have seen autograph-less.

As for the design and appeal, I think it's still good. The product hasn't changed much design-wise over the years.

Ratings (ratings based on 1-5 🍵 and on a per box basis. not for overall product)

Design 🍵🍵🍵
Photography 🍵
Inserts: 🍵
Hits 🍵🍵
Price 🍵
Value 🍵🍵

Your thoughts on this product welcomed in comments!

Have a great Thursday!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Unleashed

*takes a sip, maybe two,maybe more. It was one of those long nights of no sleep. Coffee is on the agenda, but aren't cards. So let's do some #CardsOverCoffee shall we?*

Every year, I find myself indulging in one newer set that catches my attention. I don't collect as many newer cards as I do 90's, but there usually one set that stands out to me. In 2019, it was Optic Base set(which I still need to finish the last 8 cards to). Last year it was the 2020 Donruss Holiday Sweater Sets (still need 4 duals to master set it all) and this year, I felt a bit Unleashed by Donruss.

Now before you go into complaining about Panini baseball cards, I still stand firm by them. They have some great value and some nice looking cards and guaranteed if they had a license, you would be seeking out more than Topps. At least for a few of the products.

*takes a sip, well, two, okay I lied, a few more*

I have always liked Donruss since Panini revived the brand. Not so much the base and the endless name variations, but the attractive inserts. Those are the big draw.

Donruss is full of shiny/numbered inserts that grab you in like a good book. But, none, NONE of the inserts caught me more than this years Unleashed.

Unleashed features a unique design featuring players from the top of the food chain. Since I can't ever seem to pull a Downtown or Kaboom that features unique art look, these are the closest to cool I can get.

The checklist for Unleashed features 26 cards and also a wide variety of parallels, Diamond, Pink Fireworks, Rapture, Vector, Silver /349, Blue /249, Red /149, Gold /99, Green /25, and Black 1/1. There is still plenty to be unleashed. However, I am just happy collecting what I can of them. I don't see any rainbow chases in the foreseeable future nor can I even tell the difference in most of the cards.

  

Here are all of the ones I have found so far.

I hope to add to this as time goes on with any cards I don't have and will seek out small trades to do so.

*takes a sip before closing up today's post*

My chase came early on this year for a product as its usually a later season product that catches my attention. That's okay, maybe this year I will find more than one to chase. Not that I need anything else to pile on.

Let me know your thoughts on these in comments or if you have any I don't, let me know. I have plenty of trade bait available.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2021 Donruss Blaster Box #2

 *Cup of joe is ready and so am I, let's do this Coffee Break!*

 

2021 Donruss Baseball Blaster Box

88 Cards Per Box

11 Holo Purple Per Blaster

5 Rapture Parallels Per Blaster

$19.99 Per Blaster

Summary:Donruss comes hard hitting with shiny inserts and parallels once again. I know the logos don't exist but I am huge fan regardless especially of the inserts and this years Unleashed.

The base set consists of 262 cards which is base, Diamond Kings, Rated Rookies and 1987 Redux. 

There are also multitude of parallels to find, which many you will find in a blaster box. These include, Holo Blue, Holo Orange, Holo Pink, Holo Purple, Holo Red, Independence Day, Liberty, Red /2021, Career Stat Line /500 or less, Season Stat Line /400, One Hundred /100, On Fire /75, Presidential Collection /50, Mask Emoji /19, Artist Proof /10, Press Proof /5, Number One 1/1, and Printing Plates 1/1.

Donruss also brings back plenty of past insert themes along with new ones in 2021 along with a powerful lineup of hits with autographs from Sammy Sosa to relic cards of Babe Ruth.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

Here are the key cards I found in this break:

 

 

 

This break wasn't quite as good as the first blaster box, but I still managed to land a solid PC card in the Aaron Judge parallel. Also a new Unleashed for my possible set chase, which I will elaborate on that another time.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you had a good time and hope you had a great cup of coffee.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*